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Peripheral
Arterial Disease
Alternative
& Complementary Therapies
Acupuncture
There
have been numerous controlled studies confirming that acupuncture is
effective in treating cardiovascular disease patients. Acupuncture has
been shown to exert significant effects on the cardiovascular system and
provide effective treatment for a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases
including peripheral arterial disease. (1 )
In one study (2) at the Human
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chansha, 40 patients with
arteriosclerosis induced angina pectoris were assessed during and after
acupuncture treatments. After only one treatment, 15 patients' angina
pectoris were significantly alleviated both in degree and area, and after
7 treatments 63% of the patients' angina pectoris were not only
significantly alleviated both in extent and area, but also in frequency
and duration of attack. Furthermore, the time from the beginning of
exercise to the anginal attack in the patients receiving acupuncture was
longer than that in non-acupuncture group. The time from the end of
exercise to the disappearance of angina pectoris in acupuncture group was
also shorter than that in the other group.
Other studies have also concluded
that acupuncture provides "significant improvement" in patients
with peripheral arterial disease(3). Research at the Shanghai Medical
University in China revealed that early treatment (ie. in the first three
weeks) of acupuncture produces over 90% improvement whereas treatment
commenced after three weeks gives 71% improvement rate. It is therefore
important to seek early treatment whenever possible (4).
References:
(1) Acupuncture for
cardiovascular disorders. Smith FW Jr Cardiopet, Inc., Floral Park, New
York. Probl Vet Med Mar 1992, 4 (1) p125-31.
(2) [Metrological analysis for efficacy of acupuncture on angina pectoris]
Zhou XQ; Liu JX Human College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha.
Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih (CHINA) Apr 1993, 13 (4)
p212-4,196
(3) [Acupuncture therapy in stroke.Patients experience significant
improvement] Akupunkturbehandling vid slaganfall. Patienterna visar
signifikant forbattring. Johansson K; Lindgren I; Widner H; Johansson B;
Wiklund I Samtliga vid neurologiska kliniken, Universitetssjukhuset, Lund.
Lakartidningen (SWEDEN) Jul 28 1993, 90 (30-31) p2597-600
(4) 108 cases of hemiplegia caused by stroke: the relationship between CT
scan results, clinical findings and the effect of acupuncture treatment.
Chen YM; Fang YA Acupuncture Dept., Hua Shan Hospital, Shanghai Medical
University, Peoples Republic of China. Acupunct Electrother Res 1990, 15
(1) p9-17
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